Licking County microbreweries take pride in their craft

Jan. 30, 2014 10:32 AM

Adam Rhodes, co-founder of Homestead Beer Co, a local brewery in Heath. Rhodes is standing next to a large vat of wort, which will become beer once the hops is added and the liquid has had a chance to ferment. The Homestead Beer co is one of many local breweries opening up in Licking County. / Jessica Phelps/The Advocate

Written by

Larry Fugate and Anna Jeffries

To keep up with a growing nationwide demand for local beer, a number of microwbrewers have found Licking County to be a welcoming business climate for their craft. Though the odds of starting a new business can be daunting, these entrepreneurs–and their customers–are already beginning to savor the taste of success.

Buckeye Lake Brewery

5176 Walnut Road, Buckeye Lake

buckeyelakebrewery.com

facebook.com/buckeyelakebrewery

Owner: Rich Hennosy

Opened: Super Bowl Sunday, 2012

Brews: “We have brewed about 14 styles and have six on tap at any given time,” Hennosy says. “Our Irish Red is our best seller; however, the American Pale Ale is my go-to beer.”

Fun facts:

-Hennosy describes his brewer, Mike Byrne, as “the type of person you could hand a bag full of ingredients and a bucket full of stainless steel parts and he will figure out how to make a beer out of it.”

- He started his beer odyssey by taking a class at Colorado Boy Pub and Brewery in Ridgway, Co., the establishment after which he ended up modeling his own brewery.

-Hennosy describes the atmosphere of his brewpub as welcoming, with bright, natural lighting during the day and dimmed lights in the evening to create a “neighborhood pub feel.”

Granville Brewing Co.

granvillebrewing.com

facebook.com/TheGranvilleBrewingCompany

Owners: Ross Kirk and Jay Parsons

Opened: 2011

Brews: Granville Brewing “hit the shelves with three Belgian-style ales that we focused on bottling first,” Kirk says, “but we have released two additional beers in limited draft only.” Parsons says one of the company’s secrets is “we purposefully stay away from scarce and super-hard-to-get versions of grains, hops or yeast.”

Fun facts:

-The brewery is currently a production business operating out of a former horse barn in Granville that has been renovated for use as a brewery and tasting room.

-Granville Brewing Co. is a second job for both Parsons and Kirk. While it is not their full-time occupation, the part-time pace has its positives, Kirk says. “We make it hard on ourselves by doing it as a second job, but that also affords us a chance to move at the pace we’re comfortable with and take smaller risks and see how they turn out.”

Homestead Beer Co.

811 Irving Wick Drive West, Heath

homesteadbeerco.com

facebook.com/HomesteadBeerCo

Owners: Adam Rhodes and Kevin Atkinson

Opened: February 2013

Brews: Homestead beer is available on draft, either in growlers at the brewery or in a pint at local bars and restaurants. From 3 to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and 3 to 8 p.m. on Fridays, Homestead invites visitors to come to the brewery and enjoy samples. Rhodes says the way he and Atkinson produce top-notch craft beer is to “monitor, taste, smell and evaluate” each step in the beer-making process. “We take a great deal of care in selecting our malt and hop providers and our yeast supplier is considered the best in the country,” Rhodes says.

Fun facts:

-Rhodes’ wife bought him a home brewing kit as a holiday gift 10 years ago, which launched his hobby.

-He learned the skills needed to become a craft brewer at the Siebel Institute of Technology, a brewing college in Chicago.

Buck’s Brewing Co.

facebook.com/pages/

Bucks-Brewing-Co/528852127200449

Owner: Clark Myers

Opened: October 2013

Brews: Myers started out producing a pale ale, India pale ale, a stout and a porter, with more on the horizon. Buck’s Brewing Co. beer can be found at The Beverage Source in Newark and several local establishments.

Fun facts:

-Clark Myers has worked in his family’s business, Myers Pool Co., since 1992. He serves as vice president of the company.

-He started brewing beer as a hobby seven years ago. His favorite beer is his stout.

-Myers decided on the name Buck’s Brewing based on an inside joke with his brother.

Not into beer? No worries -- several wineries also call Licking County home. From chardonnays to ice wines, cabernets to fruit wines, these establishments promise a little something for every palate.

About PROUD

Welcome to Proud, a publication celebrating Licking County's positive business climate, natural beauty and unique offerings for a smaller community. Inside, you will find the voices of local business leaders explaining why they’re proud to call Licking County home for their professional and personal lives.

Copies of the print magazine may be picked up at the Licking County Chamber of Commerce, 50 W. Locust St.